Events Calendar

Each quarter, Visual Arts Alliance (VAA) hosts professionally-juried art shows as part of the effort to create more opportunities for established and emerging artists alike to connect with the viewing public. On Wednesday, January 18, VAA will host an opening reception for the 11th Juried Invitational Exhibition from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., with an awards presentation at 7 p.m. Selected were 97 works by 36 artists.

The exhibition is juried by Lester Marks, President of LCM Partners, Ltd., and a represented artist himself. Mr. Marks has served as a trustee for both the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and td the Contemporary Arts Museum. He has been included in Art News as one of the top 200 collectors in the world, and in Art and Antiques as one of the top 100 "collectors making a difference" in the art world. Most recently, American Art Collector featured this collection in the Winter 2016 issue of Iris Covet Book.

Exhibiting artists will have the opportunity to give a short presentation on their work and answer questions from the audience. The first artist talk will be Saturday, January 14 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. The artists will be Matt Adams, Nataliya Scheib, Diane Gelman, Donna Villarreal, Anthony Pabillano, Daria Aksenova, Sally Terrell Smith, Kimberly Warren, Kelly Best Bourgeois and William Gerrish.

On Wednesday, January 11, 2016 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Visual Arts Alliance will hold an art talk and tour of the Lester Marks Collection, courtesy of LCM Partners, Ltd. at 2808 Rice Boulevard, Houston. Lester Marks, President of LCM Partners, Ltd., and a represented artist himself, has been collecting contemporary art for 25 years. He has served as a trustee for both the Museum of Fine Arts Houston and the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, among others.

Mr. Marks has been included in Art News as one of the top 200 collectors in the world, and in Art & Antiques as one of the top 100 “collectors making a difference” in the art world. Most recently, American Art Collector featured the collection in the Winter 2016 issue of Iris Covet Book.

The home of Lester Marks is a “mini-museum” of contemporary art. The home is built around an outdoor courtyard displaying the stone sculpture of the British environmental artist Richard Long. There are passageways to three small gallery spaces, a studio, and even a “subterranean playroom” for the adventurous. The collection features museum-quality works from internationally renowned artists as well works by hundreds of regional and Houston-area artists.

Each quarter, Visual Arts Alliance (VAA) hosts professionally-juried art shows as part of the effort to create more opportunities for established and emerging artists alike to connect with the viewing public. On Wednesday, January 18, VAA will host an opening reception for the 11th Juried Invitational Exhibition from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., with an awards presentation at 7 p.m. Selected were 97 works by 36 artists.

The exhibition is juried by Lester Marks, President of LCM Partners, Ltd., and a represented artist himself. Mr. Marks has served as a trustee for both the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and td the Contemporary Arts Museum. He has been included in Art News as one of the top 200 collectors in the world, and in Art and Antiques as one of the top 100 "collectors making a difference" in the art world. Most recently, American Art Collector featured this collection in the Winter 2016 issue of Iris Covet Book.

Exhibiting artists will have the opportunity to give a short presentation on their work and answer questions from the audience. The first artist talk will be Saturday, January 14 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. The artists will be Matt Adams, Nataliya Scheib, Diane Gelman, Donna Villarreal, Anthony Pabillano, Daria Aksenova, Sally Terrell Smith, Kimberly Warren, Kelly Best Bourgeois and William Gerrish.

VAA critiques are opportunities for artists to share their work with other artists. These are peer critiques in which everyone is invited to show work and discuss the work of others. You don’t have to bring work in order to show up.

Work can be in any medium and artists may bring 1 to 10 pieces. Participants will be allowed as much time as possible depending on how many people are showing work. Artists are encouraged to bring current pieces/projects they wish to discuss with others and get feedback on concept, technique, presentation, etc.

Drinks and snacks will be provided (feel free to bring and share, too).

Each quarter, Visual Arts Alliance (VAA) hosts professionally-juried art shows as part of the effort to create more opportunities for established and emerging artists alike to connect with the viewing public. On Wednesday, January 18, VAA will host an opening reception for the 11th Juried Invitational Exhibition from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., with an awards presentation at 7 p.m. Selected were 97 works by 36 artists.

The exhibition is juried by Lester Marks, President of LCM Partners, Ltd., and a represented artist himself. Mr. Marks has served as a trustee for both the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and td the Contemporary Arts Museum. He has been included in Art News as one of the top 200 collectors in the world, and in Art and Antiques as one of the top 100 "collectors making a difference" in the art world. Most recently, American Art Collector featured this collection in the Winter 2016 issue of Iris Covet Book.

Exhibiting artists will have the opportunity to give a short presentation on their work and answer questions from the audience. The first artist talk will be Saturday, January 14 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. The artists will be Matt Adams, Nataliya Scheib, Diane Gelman, Donna Villarreal, Anthony Pabillano, Daria Aksenova, Sally Terrell Smith, Kimberly Warren, Kelly Best Bourgeois and William Gerrish.

Each quarter, Visual Arts Alliance (VAA) hosts professionally-juried art shows as part of the effort to create more opportunities for established and emerging artists alike to connect with the viewing public. On Wednesday, January 18, VAA will host an opening reception for the 11th Juried Invitational Exhibition from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., with an awards presentation at 7 p.m. Selected were 97 works by 36 artists.

The exhibition is juried by Lester Marks, President of LCM Partners, Ltd., and a represented artist himself. Mr. Marks has served as a trustee for both the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and td the Contemporary Arts Museum. He has been included in Art News as one of the top 200 collectors in the world, and in Art and Antiques as one of the top 100 "collectors making a difference" in the art world. Most recently, American Art Collector featured this collection in the Winter 2016 issue of Iris Covet Book.

Exhibiting artists will have the opportunity to give a short presentation on their work and answer questions from the audience. The first artist talk will be Saturday, January 14 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. The artists will be Matt Adams, Nataliya Scheib, Diane Gelman, Donna Villarreal, Anthony Pabillano, Daria Aksenova, Sally Terrell Smith, Kimberly Warren, Kelly Best Bourgeois and William Gerrish.

BOX 13 ArtSpace is an innovative art space located at 6700 Harrisburg Blvd., Houston TX 77011. It is an artist run nonprofit space dedicated to the creation and advancement of experimental contemporary art in Houston. BOX 13 offers affordable work spaces for emerging and established artists, dedicating four interior spaces to the exhibition of artistic explorations, a window gallery for installations and an outdoor courtyard space. 25 residents, artists working in all media, participate in BOX 13.

Kreutter works in parts and pieces and is interested in creating objects and spaces that are in transformation These transformations speak about a potential to be between, to be more than what contains us. It is both a connection and dissolution, something between remembering and forgetting that opens up a space for reality to be intersected with something other. In 2013, she designed an ice sculpture in collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art (Denver) and created an unfired clay installation for the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) Project Space. Her clay installation work was featured in the January 2014 Issue of Ceramics Monthly. In 2016, she was a recipient of a Houston Arts Alliance Individual Artist Grant.

VAA critiques are opportunities for artists to share their work with other artists. These are peer critiques in which everyone is invited to show work and discuss the work of others. You don’t have to bring work in order to show up.

Work can be in any medium and artists may bring 1 to 10 pieces. Participants will be allowed as much time as possible depending on how many people are showing work. Artists are encouraged to bring current pieces/projects they wish to discuss with others and get feedback on concept, technique, presentation, etc.

Drinks and snacks will be provided (feel free to bring and share, too).

The three speakers, all of whom have been jurors for VAA, will discuss their selection processes when judging a competition. Previously submitted works will be projected for the audience, and panelists will discuss the selection/elimination process applied to each work. Artists will discover the whys and hows of selection from a juror’s point of view, including the constants of technique and presentation as well as the unique personal biases of jurors.

“VAA is so pleased to be able to present this first-hand look into a juror’s thought process. Every artist who has ever entered a competition wonders what makes a piece worthy of selection. What does a juror look for? How does a juror’s background affect the selection process? These are the questions the morning’s session will investigate,” says Matt Adams, President at VAA. “This is a rare opportunity for artists to get inside the mind of a juror and learn how to make each submission the best.”

VAA critiques are opportunities for artists to share their work with other artists. These are peer critiques in which everyone is invited to show work and discuss the work of others. You don’t have to bring work in order to show up.

Work can be in any medium and artists may bring 1 to 10 pieces. Participants will be allowed as much time as possible depending on how many people are showing work. Artists are encouraged to bring current pieces/projects they wish to discuss with others and get feedback on concept, technique, presentation, etc.

Drinks and snacks will be provided (feel free to bring and share, too).

On Saturday, April 1, Visual Arts Alliance (VAA) offers members and guests a guided tour of the Houston Museum of African-American Culture. The free tour begins at 11:15 a.m. at 4807 Caroline St., Houston, 77004.

The mission of the Houston Museum of African American Culture (HMAAC) is to collect, conserve, explore, interpret, and exhibit the material and intellectual culture of Africans and African Americans in Houston, the state of Texas, the southwest and the African Diaspora for current and future generations.

Faith Ringgold, painter, writer, speaker, mixed media sculptor and performance artist lives and works in Englewood, New Jersey. Ms. Ringgold is professor emeritus at the University of California, San Diego where she taught art from 1987 until 2002. Professor Ringgold is the recipient of more than 75 awards including 22 Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts Degrees.

Ringgold’s art has been exhibited in museums and galleries in the USA, Canada, Europe, Asia, South America, the Middle East, and Africa. Her art is included in many private and public art collections including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The National Museum of American Art, The Museum of Modern Art, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, The Boston Museum of Fine Art, The Chase Manhattan Bank Collection, The Baltimore Museum, Williams College Museum of Art, The High Museum of Fine Art, The Newark Museum, The Phillip Morris Collection, The St. Louis Art Museum and The Spencer Museum.

VAA critiques are opportunities for artists to share their work with other artists. These are peer critiques in which everyone is invited to show work and discuss the work of others. You don’t have to bring work in order to show up.

Work can be in any medium and artists may bring 1 to 10 pieces. Participants will be allowed as much time as possible depending on how many people are showing work. Artists are encouraged to bring current pieces/projects they wish to discuss with others and get feedback on concept, technique, presentation, etc.

Drinks and snacks will be provided (feel free to bring and share, too).

Each year, Visual Arts Alliance (VAA) hosts multiple professionally-juried art shows as part of the effort to create more opportunities for established and emerging artists alike to connect with the viewing public. On Wednesday, May 10, VAA will host an opening reception for the 34th Juried Open Exhibition from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., with an awards presentation at 7 p.m. The exhibition will be on display from May 1 through June 3, at Spring Street Studios (2nd Floor), 1824 Spring Street. Rachel Cook, Curator at DiverseWorks in Houston, juries the exhibition.

Rachel Cook's curatorial work reconsiders the relationship between images and objects, and investigates methods of delegation embedded within performative and participatory work. Her writing has appeared in a number of art journals and catalogues, including Modern Painters, Flash Art, and the upcoming Prospect 3 catalogue. She is currently the Guest Editor of Art Lies for Gulf Coast, a journal of literature and fine arts. Cook holds a Masters from the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College and Bachelors from the San Francisco Art Institute. Last year she received a Curatorial Fellowship from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts to research a series of Walker Evans’ photographs from the African Negro Art exhibition at MoMA in 1935.

Exhibiting artists will have the opportunity to give a short presentation on their work and answer questions from the audience.
- The first artist talk will be Saturday, May 13 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
- The second artist talk will be Saturday, May 20 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Each year, Visual Arts Alliance (VAA) hosts multiple professionally-juried art shows as part of the effort to create more opportunities for established and emerging artists alike to connect with the viewing public. On Wednesday, May 10, VAA will host an opening reception for the 34th Juried Open Exhibition from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., with an awards presentation at 7 p.m. The exhibition will be on display from May 1 through June 3, at Spring Street Studios (2nd Floor), 1824 Spring Street. Rachel Cook, Curator at DiverseWorks in Houston, juries the exhibition.

Rachel Cook's curatorial work reconsiders the relationship between images and objects, and investigates methods of delegation embedded within performative and participatory work. Her writing has appeared in a number of art journals and catalogues, including Modern Painters, Flash Art, and the upcoming Prospect 3 catalogue. She is currently the Guest Editor of Art Lies for Gulf Coast, a journal of literature and fine arts. Cook holds a Masters from the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College and Bachelors from the San Francisco Art Institute. Last year she received a Curatorial Fellowship from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts to research a series of Walker Evans’ photographs from the African Negro Art exhibition at MoMA in 1935.

Exhibiting artists will have the opportunity to give a short presentation on their work and answer questions from the audience.
- The first artist talk will be Saturday, May 13 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
- The second artist talk will be Saturday, May 20 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Each year, Visual Arts Alliance (VAA) hosts multiple professionally-juried art shows as part of the effort to create more opportunities for established and emerging artists alike to connect with the viewing public. On Wednesday, May 10, VAA will host an opening reception for the 34th Juried Open Exhibition from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., with an awards presentation at 7 p.m. The exhibition will be on display from May 1 through June 3, at Spring Street Studios (2nd Floor), 1824 Spring Street. Rachel Cook, Curator at DiverseWorks in Houston, juries the exhibition.

Rachel Cook's curatorial work reconsiders the relationship between images and objects, and investigates methods of delegation embedded within performative and participatory work. Her writing has appeared in a number of art journals and catalogues, including Modern Painters, Flash Art, and the upcoming Prospect 3 catalogue. She is currently the Guest Editor of Art Lies for Gulf Coast, a journal of literature and fine arts. Cook holds a Masters from the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College and Bachelors from the San Francisco Art Institute. Last year she received a Curatorial Fellowship from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts to research a series of Walker Evans’ photographs from the African Negro Art exhibition at MoMA in 1935.

Exhibiting artists will have the opportunity to give a short presentation on their work and answer questions from the audience:The first artist talk will be Saturday, May 13 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. The artists will be Matt Adams, Cameron Alexander, J.M.M. Barkovich, Daniel Brents, Angela Corson, Shi Dong, Karen Ferrer, Lisa Goodrich, Cedric Ingram, Cameron Sands, Marlo Saucedo and Sally Terrell Smith.

- The second artist talk will be Saturday, May 20 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

VAA critiques are opportunities for artists to share their work with other artists. These are peer critiques in which everyone is invited to show work and discuss the work of others. You don’t have to bring work in order to show up.

Work can be in any medium and artists may bring 1 to 10 pieces. Participants will be allowed as much time as possible depending on how many people are showing work. Artists are encouraged to bring current pieces/projects they wish to discuss with others and get feedback on concept, technique, presentation, etc.

Drinks and snacks will be provided (feel free to bring and share, too).

Each year, Visual Arts Alliance (VAA) hosts multiple professionally-juried art shows as part of the effort to create more opportunities for established and emerging artists alike to connect with the viewing public. On Wednesday, May 10, VAA will host an opening reception for the 34th Juried Open Exhibition from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., with an awards presentation at 7 p.m. The exhibition will be on display from May 1 through June 3, at Spring Street Studios (2nd Floor), 1824 Spring Street. Rachel Cook, Curator at DiverseWorks in Houston, juries the exhibition.

Rachel Cook's curatorial work reconsiders the relationship between images and objects, and investigates methods of delegation embedded within performative and participatory work. Her writing has appeared in a number of art journals and catalogues, including Modern Painters, Flash Art, and the upcoming Prospect 3 catalogue. She is currently the Guest Editor of Art Lies for Gulf Coast, a journal of literature and fine arts. Cook holds a Masters from the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College and Bachelors from the San Francisco Art Institute. Last year she received a Curatorial Fellowship from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts to research a series of Walker Evans’ photographs from the African Negro Art exhibition at MoMA in 1935.

Exhibiting artists will have the opportunity to give a short presentation on their work and answer questions from the audience:
- The first artist talk will be Saturday, May 13 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

The second artist talk will be Saturday, May 20 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.The artists at this talk are Betty-Ann Brose, Tracey Meyer, Alexandra Nemeth, Laszlo Perlaky, Cynthia Reid and Barbara Shaw.

VAA critiques are opportunities for artists to share their work with other artists. These are peer critiques in which everyone is invited to show work and discuss the work of others. You don’t have to bring work in order to show up.

Work can be in any medium and artists may bring 1 to 10 pieces. Participants will be allowed as much time as possible depending on how many people are showing work. Artists are encouraged to bring current pieces/projects they wish to discuss with others and get feedback on concept, technique, presentation, etc.

Drinks and snacks will be provided (feel free to bring and share, too).

Emerging artists are oftentimes bewildered on how to price their work. Matt Adams, VAA president, art blogger and avid collector will share his years of observations from a collector's point of view in this workshop. It will start with an overview of strategic pricing that he has developed, followed by case histories and concluding with one-on-one consultations.

By using the structured pricing model, you can easily explain to collectors/galleries why your prices are what they are. Also, you will see how and when to increase your prices.

Attendance will be limited to the first 12 VAA members that arrive. Attendees must bring data about their own artwork for review. To do this, make a table with the following columns: Title, Height, Width, Asking Price.

VAA critiques are opportunities for artists to share their work with other artists. These are peer critiques in which everyone is invited to show work and discuss the work of others. You don’t have to bring work in order to show up.

Work can be in any medium and artists may bring 1 to 10 pieces. Participants will be allowed as much time as possible depending on how many people are showing work. Artists are encouraged to bring current pieces/projects they wish to discuss with others and get feedback on concept, technique, presentation, etc.

Drinks and snacks will be provided (feel free to bring and share, too).

Each quarter, Visual Arts Alliance (VAA) hosts professionally-juried art shows as part of the effort to create more opportunities for established and emerging artists alike to connect with the viewing public. On Wednesday, August 9, VAA will host an opening reception for the 12th Juried Invitational Exhibition from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., with an awards presentation at 7 p.m. This event is the 80th juried exhibition VAA has produced since its founding in 1981. It will be on display from July 31 through August 26 at The Silos at Sawyer Yards, 1502 Sawyer Street, Houston. Artists, art enthusiasts, collectors, curators, and emerging collectors are invited to attend. For collectors it is very important to note that VAA takes no commission on sales; all sales are handled directly with the artist.

The exhibition was juried by Catherine D. Anspon. Since 1998, Catherine has covered the Texas art scene for PaperCity magazine, where she is currently an Executive Editor, based in Houston. Her byline has also appeared in Artnews as its Houston correspondent, Art & Antiques, Spot, and Glasstire, and most recently, Artdesk and Cultured. With a Master's in Art History, this Pittsburgh native — who's obsessed with Warhol — has served as an independent curator, and is the author of the volume Texas Artists Today (Marquand Books, 2010). Ms. Anspon plans to profile the winner on PaperCity's website along with a write up in PaperCity Magazine.

Each quarter, Visual Arts Alliance (VAA) hosts professionally-juried art shows as part of the effort to create more opportunities for established and emerging artists alike to connect with the viewing public. On Wednesday, August 9, VAA will host an opening reception for the 12th Juried Invitational Exhibition from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., with an awards presentation at 7 p.m. This event is the 80th juried exhibition VAA has produced since its founding in 1981. It will be on display from July 31 through August 26 at The Silos at Sawyer Yards, 1502 Sawyer Street, Houston. Artists, art enthusiasts, collectors, curators, and emerging collectors are invited to attend. For collectors it is very important to note that VAA takes no commission on sales; all sales are handled directly with the artist.

The exhibition was juried by Catherine D. Anspon. Since 1998, Catherine has covered the Texas art scene for PaperCity magazine, where she is currently an Executive Editor, based in Houston. Her byline has also appeared in Artnews as its Houston correspondent, Art & Antiques, Spot, and Glasstire, and most recently, Artdesk and Cultured. With a Master's in Art History, this Pittsburgh native — who's obsessed with Warhol — has served as an independent curator, and is the author of the volume Texas Artists Today (Marquand Books, 2010). Ms. Anspon plans to profile the winner on PaperCity's website along with a write up in PaperCity Magazine.

Each quarter, Visual Arts Alliance (VAA) hosts professionally-juried art shows as part of the effort to create more opportunities for established and emerging artists alike to connect with the viewing public. On Wednesday, August 9, VAA will host an opening reception for the 12th Juried Invitational Exhibition from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., with an awards presentation at 7 p.m. This event is the 80th juried exhibition VAA has produced since its founding in 1981. It will be on display from July 31 through August 26 at The Silos at Sawyer Yards, 1502 Sawyer Street, Houston. Artists, art enthusiasts, collectors, curators, and emerging collectors are invited to attend. For collectors it is very important to note that VAA takes no commission on sales; all sales are handled directly with the artist.

The exhibition was juried by Catherine D. Anspon. Since 1998, Catherine has covered the Texas art scene for PaperCity magazine, where she is currently an Executive Editor, based in Houston. Her byline has also appeared in Artnews as its Houston correspondent, Art & Antiques, Spot, and Glasstire, and most recently, Artdesk and Cultured. With a Master's in Art History, this Pittsburgh native — who's obsessed with Warhol — has served as an independent curator, and is the author of the volume Texas Artists Today (Marquand Books, 2010). Ms. Anspon plans to profile the winner on PaperCity's website along with a write up in PaperCity Magazine.

VAA critiques are opportunities for artists to share their work with other artists. These are peer critiques in which everyone is invited to show work and discuss the work of others. You don’t have to bring work in order to show up.

Work can be in any medium and artists may bring 1 to 10 pieces. Participants will be allowed as much time as possible depending on how many people are showing work. Artists are encouraged to bring current pieces/projects they wish to discuss with others and get feedback on concept, technique, presentation, etc.

Drinks and snacks will be provided (feel free to bring and share, too).

VAA critiques are opportunities for artists to share their work with other artists. These are peer critiques in which everyone is invited to show work and discuss the work of others. You don’t have to bring work in order to show up.

Work can be in any medium and artists may bring 1 to 10 pieces. Participants will be allowed as much time as possible depending on how many people are showing work. Artists are encouraged to bring current pieces/projects they wish to discuss with others and get feedback on concept, technique, presentation, etc.

Drinks and snacks will be provided (feel free to bring and share, too).

Join us on September 30th for a Visual Arts Alliance-sponsored, one-day trip via luxury coach to Austin. We will visit the Harry Ransom Center (hrc.utexas.edu), the Blanton (blantonmuseum.org), the Contemporary – Jones Center (thecontemporaryaustin.org) and the Mexic-Arte Museum (mexic-artemuseum.org) and receive special, guided tours by the respective curators.

We will meet in the River Oaks/Montrose area of town at 7:00 a.m. A continental breakfast will be served at on the bus. Our first stops will be the Harry Ransom Center and the Blanton followed by lunch (not provided). After that, we will visit the Contemporary – Jones Center and the Mexic-Arte Museum along with a brief stop at an Ai WeiWei sculpture. Dinner (not provided) will take place in the private dining room at La Condesa restaurant. We will return to the Houston departure point by 10:00 p.m.

Fee: $95 for VAA members, $145 for non-members (will include a 1-year membership). All admission costs are included in the fee. The event is limited to 20 participants. No refunds will be given and the trip will occur rain or shine.

VAA members are invited to join us for a hands-on glass fusion workshop on October 14th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m at Robert Straight’s studio, located in the Hobby Airport area: 8437 Barkley Street (blue metal building), Houston, 77017.

Robert Straight will give an opening presentation where we will learn about cutting glass and about the temperatures and time needed for fusing glass. All the necessary tools and glass will be provided. We will make a small piece, 6" x 8", tack fused or full fused. Robert will work with each person on their project so it can be put in the kiln for fusing. This is an overnight process so the projects will come out of the kiln the next day. Members can return on Sunday to get their piece from the kiln or they can pick it up at the Social Mixer on October 20.

No RSVP is required, however, due to space and time, the first ten members to arrive will be able to work hands-on. Arrivals 11+ are free to stay and observe. After the workshop, there will be refreshments and discussion. Bring a folding chair to sit outside and chat!

In addition to being a VAA member, Robert Straight is a native Houstonian and a senior citizen. He has a Certificate of Completion from the Glassell School of Art in Jewelry Making and an Associate’s Degree from Houston Community College in Fine Art. Robert also has a B.F.A. in Sculpture from the University of Houston and an M.F.A. from Huston Baptist University. His thesis was in glass fusing and sculpture. He has been in his studio for more than forty years and can complete just about any type of project in wood, metal or glass.

VAA critiques are opportunities for artists to share their work with other artists. These are peer critiques in which everyone is invited to show work and discuss the work of others. You don’t have to bring work in order to show up.

Work can be in any medium and artists may bring 1 to 10 pieces. Participants will be allowed as much time as possible depending on how many people are showing work. Artists are encouraged to bring current pieces/projects they wish to discuss with others and get feedback on concept, technique, presentation, etc.

Drinks and snacks will be provided (feel free to bring and share, too).

Each quarter, Visual Arts Alliance (VAA) hosts professionally-juried art shows as part of the effort to create more opportunities for established and emerging artists alike to connect with the viewing public. On Wednesday, November 8, VAA will host an opening reception for the 35th Juried Membership Exhibition from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., with an awards presentation at 7 p.m. This event is the 81st juried exhibition VAA has produced since its founding in 1981. It will be on display from October 30 through December 2 at The Spring Street Studios, 1824 Spring Street, Second Floor, Houston. Artists, art enthusiasts, collectors, curators, and emerging collectors are invited to attend. For collectors it is very important to note that VAA takes no commission on sales; all sales are handled directly with the artist.

The exhibition was juried by Dr. Cindy Lisica, owner and director of Cindy Lisica Gallery. Over the last 15 years, Cindy Lisica has taken her curatorial research and professional work to cities throughout the world. In addition to championing artists' careers through gallery shows, she has worked in museums including The Warhol and the Menil Collection. She regularly presents at international speaking engagements and conferences. As an Asian-American scholar, she continues to teach Art History courses on East Asia, as well as symposiums and guest lectures at museums. She is currently part-time faculty at the University of Houston, where she teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in the "Art and Architecture of India" and "Modern and Contemporary Asian Art".

According to Dr. Lisica "Out of over 300 remarkable submissions, I was able to focus the final selection to 44 distinct and powerful works. Driven initially by an academic curatorial process, I sought thoughtful “smart” art with clear content and ideas, as well as successful execution. I hope that the resulting exhibition finds a balance, as it includes both simplicity in form (with evidence of a healthy dose of intellectual exertion) and more laborious physical processes (with meaning in the method), all imbedded within the layers and textures." The works on exhibit are in various mediums by the following 29 artists: Daniel Brents, Susan Budge, Angela Corson, Luisa Duarte, Rei Egusquiza, Steve Fisher, Terry Fromm, William Gerrish, Lisa Goodrich, Nell Gottlieb, Leslie M. Guzmán, Jillian Hakala, Jimmy Hines, Martin Holmes, Padaric Kolander, Rona Lesser, Rennie MacKay Quinn, David Mann, Pat McEnery, Ami Mehta, Judith Meyer, Ellen Ray, William Reed, Nariner Sall, A M Schaer, John Slaby, Laura Sprague, Stacy Tracy and Jennifer Traina-Dorge.

Exhibiting artists will have the opportunity to give a short presentation on their work and answer questions from the audience. The artist talk will be Saturday, November 11, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. The participating artists will be Susan Budge, Angela Corson, Luisa Duarte, Nell Gottlieb, Jimmy Hines, Pat McEnery, Ami Mehta, William Reed, Narinder Sall, A M Schaer, John Slaby, Laura Sprague and Stacy Tracy.

New art collectors in Houston face an imposing variety of viewing and purchasing options. To help eliminate confusion and intimidation, Visual Arts Alliance has assembled a panel of 3 experienced collectors who will share their passion for the visual arts. Intended for new and experienced collectors alike, this panel will provide insight into personal tastes, experiences and opinions regarding the collecting of artworks. The discussion will also let artists discover what collectors look for when considering acquiring a new piece. Moderated by VAA Vice President, Erik Hagen, the panel will consist of Chris Higham, Henry Hunt and Professor Donna Tennant.

Mr. Higham is a co-founder of an annual exhibition at Spring Street Studios and is a regular volunteer with the Bayou City Arts Festival, KUHF/Houston Public Media and Lawndale Art Center. Additionally, he conducts interviews of artists for Houston Art Showcase, a local organization that strives to ignite art appreciation and increase artistic standards in the local community, while providing opportunities to reach, develop and stimulate artists.

Mr. Hunt is a reformed academic, longtime graphic designer and branding professional. He describes himself as a usual suspect in the art community.

Professor Tennant is a former Houston Chronicle art critic, lecturer in Art History at UH-Downtown and Lone Star college, longtime art writer and editor for various local and national magazines and currently writing for Arts & Culture, the online publication Visual Art Source and recently Art Limited.

The free discussion will take place at The Montrose Centre, 401,Branard St., room 107, on Saturday November 4th, starting at 11.00. There will be Q&A session at the end of the meeting.

Visual Arts Alliance (VAA) is an educational organization for serious practitioners of the visual arts and interested members of the general public. Founded in Houston, TX in 1981, VAA is an all-volunteer-run, 501(c)3, nonprofit organization. In addition to educational and recreational programs, VAA also produces professionally juried art exhibitions providing opportunities for members and non-members to have their work professionally judged and viewed by the general public. For membership details and more information, visit www.VisualArtsAlliance.org.

Each quarter, Visual Arts Alliance (VAA) hosts professionally-juried art shows as part of the effort to create more opportunities for established and emerging artists alike to connect with the viewing public. On Wednesday, November 8, VAA will host an opening reception for the 35th Juried Membership Exhibition from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., with an awards presentation at 7 p.m. This event is the 81st juried exhibition VAA has produced since its founding in 1981. It will be on display from October 30 through December 2 at The Spring Street Studios, 1824 Spring Street, Second Floor, Houston. Artists, art enthusiasts, collectors, curators, and emerging collectors are invited to attend. For collectors, it is very important to note that VAA takes no commission on sales; all sales are handled directly with the artist.

The exhibition will be juried by Dr. Cindy Lisica, owner and director of Cindy Lisica Gallery. Over the last 15 years, Cindy Lisica has taken her curatorial research and professional work to cities throughout the world. In addition to championing artists' careers through gallery shows, she has worked in museums including The Warhol and the Menil Collection. She regularly presents at international speaking engagements and conferences. As an Asian-American scholar, she continues to teach Art History courses on East Asia, as well as symposiums and guest lectures at museums. She is currently part-time faculty at the University of Houston, where she teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in the "Art and Architecture of India" and "Modern and Contemporary Asian Art".

Exhibiting artists will have the opportunity to give a short presentation on their work and answer questions from the audience. The artist talk will be Saturday, November 11, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

VAA critiques are opportunities for artists to share their work with other artists. These are peer critiques in which everyone is invited to show work and discuss the work of others. You don’t have to bring work in order to show up.

Work can be in any medium and artists may bring 1 to 10 pieces. Participants will be allowed as much time as possible depending on how many people are showing work. Artists are encouraged to bring current pieces/projects they wish to discuss with others and get feedback on concept, technique, presentation, etc.

Drinks and snacks will be provided (feel free to bring and share, too).

On December 2 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. the artists in the 35th Juried Membership Exhibition will talk about their work and answer questions from the audience. The participating artists will be Susan Budge, Angela Corson, Luisa Duarte, Nell Gottlieb, Jimmy Hines, Pat McEnery, Ami Mehta, William Reed, Narinder Sall, A M Schaer, John Slaby, Laura Sprague and Stacy Tracy.

The exhibition was juried by Dr. Cindy Lisica, owner and director of Cindy Lisica Gallery. Over the last 15 years, Cindy Lisica has taken her curatorial research and professional work to cities throughout the world. In addition to championing artists' careers through gallery shows, she has worked in museums including The Warhol and the Menil Collection. She regularly presents at international speaking engagements and conferences. As an Asian-American scholar, she continues to teach Art History courses on East Asia, as well as symposiums and guest lectures at museums. She is currently part-time faculty at the University of Houston, where she teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in the "Art and Architecture of India" and "Modern and Contemporary Asian Art".

According to Dr. Lisica "Out of over 300 remarkable submissions, I was able to focus the final selection to 44 distinct and powerful works. Driven initially by an academic curatorial process, I sought thoughtful "smart" art with clear content and ideas, as well as successful execution. I hope that the resulting exhibition finds a balance, as it includes both simplicity in form (with evidence of a healthy dose of intellectual exertion) and more laborious physical processes (with meaning in the method), all imbedded within the layers and textures." The works on exhibit are in various mediums by the following 29 artists: Daniel Brents, Susan Budge, Angela Corson, Luisa Duarte, Rei Egusquiza, Steve Fisher, Terry Fromm, William Gerrish, Lisa Goodrich, Nell Gottlieb, Leslie M. Guzmán, Jillian Hakala, Jimmy Hines, Martin Holmes, Padaric Kolander, Rona Lesser, Rennie MacKay Quinn, David Mann, Pat McEnery, Ami Mehta, Judith Meyer, Ellen Ray, William Reed, Nariner Sall, A M Schaer, John Slaby, Laura Sprague, Stacy Tracy and Jennifer Traina-Dorge.

On Thursday, December 7, at 6:30 p.m., Visual Arts Alliance will be given a private demonstration of Italian glass blowing by DIck Moiel and Kathy Poeppel of Houston Studio Glass. Dick and Kathy will explain the art of Italian off hand or free hand blowing as done in Murano, Italy for hundreds of years. Sitting on a gaffer's bench, they will work the glass while hot and demonstrate the process of gathering, blowing and punting the glass. They will finish by putting the piece in the annealing oven or kiln. There the temperature is stabilized and over a period of hours the glass is brought down to room temperature.

Dick Moiel and Kath Poeppel's interest began with collecting. After taking their first glass blowing class in 1994, they build a basic hot shop and began melting glass the following year. The couple blows both decorative and functional objects during climate friendly months (October through April.) They continue to take more classes during the summer months. The retired physician and his PA/RN wife are nationally known in glass blowing circles.

Many of Dick and Kathy's pieces will be on display as well as for sale. Houston Studio Glass is located at 610 Jackson Hill, Houston, 77007.

VAA critiques are opportunities for artists to share their work with other artists. These are peer critiques in which everyone is invited to show work and discuss the work of others. You don’t have to bring work in order to show up.

Work can be in any medium and artists may bring 1 to 10 pieces. Participants will be allowed as much time as possible depending on how many people are showing work. Artists are encouraged to bring current pieces/projects they wish to discuss with others and get feedback on concept, technique, presentation, etc.

Drinks and snacks will be provided (feel free to bring and share, too).